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I think it's one of the most significant "wonders" being worked on at the moment and, more so than the rest of the nominees, it is a symbol of the FUTURE wonders that mankind is reaching for... The same would apply to Dolly being nominated...

As to whether it's a wonder of the world is another question. Does an object in geostationary orbit still constitute as a part of (if not technically being in) the world?

My vote goes to ISS too. Opening of *Western Lands*, William Burroughs says something in line with his "we're here to go" idea. The only thing that can save the human species is an international collective dedicated to humans in space. If we all collaborated on that one, then every warring nation could have their own planet to turn into a perpetual war machine while leaving the pacifists alone on their own alien-apple studded orchard planet. ISS Forever!

In any case, I think something - or someone - in geostationary orbit still constitutes a part of the earth... in particular if you actually launched, say, a part of the earth into orbit. Molten rock from Hawaii or Iceland; chambers of air; genetic material. So the ISS is "of the world," as it were. Though I could imagine this problem producing a million little Mediterranean philosophical texts 1500 years ago. In fact, Aristotle probably wrote about this question somewhere...

How 'bout Alcatraz? Or the Panopticon? The Maginot Line? Hadrian's Wall? Area 51? The Nazca Lines?

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BLDGBLOG ("building blog") is written by Geoff Manaugh. The opinions expressed here are my own; they do not reflect the views of my friends, editors, employers, publishers, or colleagues, with whom this blog is not affiliated. More.